RANGERS manager Ally McCoist piled praise on Ian Black last night as the returning midfielder starred in his side’s 8-0 demolition of Stenhousemuir at Ibrox.

Black was back in the starting line-up following his three-game ban for breaching betting rules and he set up three goals, although hitman Jon Daly stole the show with a stunning four-goal haul.

And on a day when the Light Blue legions hounded the club’s board with a series of songs and banners in protest against the current regime, McCoist was keen to pay tribute to the fans for their reaction to Black.

He said: “Blackie was terrific and it was great to see the reaction he got. Our fans are very intelligent. They know he made a mistake and they know he has been punished.

“They want to support him now and I had no hesitation in starting him.

“He has been terrific for us all season and he continued from where he left off.”

McCoist was also quick to salute strike ace Daly.

He said: “I’ve been singing the big man’s praises since he came here and he is a gentleman.